Pastor's Corner: One Lord. One church.

Friday

Jun 6, 2014 at 2:00 PM

Chris DeVos

This week many churches in Holland agreed to drape burlap stenciled with the words “One Lord, One Church” over their own particular church signs. The intent behind this gesture is a reminder to everyone that each church is part of one global Church. The Church spans our community, our state, our country and, indeed, the world. “The Church” with a capital “C” is one in Christ, or one because of Christ’s death, resurrection and ascension.The Church began when, following Jesus’ resurrection and ascension, the Holy Spirit was poured out upon the followers of Jesus in fulfillment of Joel’s prophecy. In spite of all the differences, all churches are part of the one stream of those whom Christ continues to call, to fill with his Spirit and to send forth proclaiming and living out the gospel.But soon the burlap will be removed and the usual signs will return. And people will ask, if they haven’t already, “what was with the burlap?” Here’s how I’m choosing to answer. Burlap is our version of sackcloth, which is associated with repentance or mourning in the Bible.People would clothe themselves in sackcloth and sometimes sit in ashes or dirt as a sign that they had come to the realization that something was desperately wrong about their situation and they needed to turn to God and repent. A person would drape him or herself in sackcloth (burlap) instead of normal clothes to indicate that they were in need of a change. It was a sign for God and all who saw it as they passed by.So it is a little odd when we drape our signs with burlap. A church sign is static and impersonal. It can’t mourn or repent of its condition. It should really be us who wear the burlap. And the change I believe that needs to happen is not that we all have to have the same sign up for one week or even all year long.If there is a problem with division, fighting, schism or competition in the church, it starts with me — my attitude toward those who worship differently than I do or those who like certain forms of worship different than the ones I do. I need to mourn the condition of my heart that bends so easily to the dominant culture of individual taste and quickly demeans another denomination or congregation for its lack of theological rigor. I need to repent of the idea that my church is the right church over the other wrong churches. And, I believe, I can do this while freely accepting a multitude of ways that Christians will worship, fellowship and serve God.I don’t have to feel guilty for liking certain forms of worship, music or preaching over others. Church unity is not an imposed uniformity. What good is there in denying the beauty of Gods’ redemptive work as it is embodied across the cultural span of God’s people and world? But I should lament my tendency to condemn others who, though following Christ, worship and think differently about some things.If the promoters of this week's event got really serious, they’d ask all the preachers and church leaders to where the burlap for one week. We are the real church signs the community and world sees — having coffee, eating lunch, visiting in the hospital, meeting folks out in the community, playing softball. A church sign can’t repent, only we can. Of course, this idea might cost a more for the extra burlap and, if I’m going to wear it, some kind of soft fabric liner!— The Rev. Chris DeVos is a pastor at Pillar Church in Holland. Contact him at cjdevos@pillarchurch.com.